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Monday, 27 February 2017

On Saturday afternoon there were 16 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the Passage House area, but few other large gulls. Wintering species still present included the four Wigeon, three Bar-tailed Godwits and two Greenshanks.

Yesterday five Cattle Egrets were still at Teigngrace and a Blackcap was in near-full song in Kingsteignton.

Monday, 13 February 2017

Good numbers of birds on the estuary this morning but a very strong easterly wind and choppy water made viewing conditions a little challenging. There were close to a thousand gulls at Passage House including 16 Common Gulls and three Lesser Black-backed Gulls but unfortunately no white-wingers. Another two LBBs were at Flow Point, suggesting a light movement. Other counts between Passage House and Salcombe Dip included 18 Red-breasted Mergansers, 48 Shelducks, four Wigeon, 13 Cormorants, 380 Oystercatchers, 65 Curlew, 35 Dunlin, 24 Lapwings, just 10 Redshanks, seven Ringed Plovers, four Avocets, two Greenshanks and two Bar-tailed Godwits. Yesterday there were 23 Turnstones and three Cormorants off Teignmouth Back Beach, and a Peregrine flew low over the eastern side of Kingsteignton.

Saturday, 4 February 2017

Twelve Waxwings were reported flying north over the racecourse at 10:15 this morning; despite several checks of berry bushes around Tesco and the Kingsteignton retail outlets there was no further sign. These were presumably the Heathfield birds wandering as they were not reported there today to my knowledge. Also the Bonaparte's Gull made its first appearance of the year along Teignmouth seafront, but there was no sign soon after. Three Great Northern Diver and a female Eider were offshore.

This afternoon Mark Bailey had five Avocets and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at Passage House, and I caught up with three of the Teigngrace Cattle Egrets in a field along the track to Blatchford Farm with 16 Little Egrets. Although not visible in the shot below, each Cattle Egret had begun to develop a hint of an orange crown.

Wednesday, 1 February 2017

Yesterday Cilla Ingram reported the Siberian Chiffchaff again present in trees at Cricketfield car park along with four collybitaChiffchaffs and a Goldcrest still for company. Also a Grey Wagtail flew down the River Lemon and four Avocets, c.30 Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper were seen from Passage House.